Customer Reviews

ESV Compact Bible (TruTone®, Tan/Burgundy, Vine Design)

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The ESV is a wonderful version of the Bible. The purpose of this review is not to discuss whether you should purchase a Bible or whether you should purchase an ESV Bible. This review will focus on this particular ESV Bible.
This Compact TruTone edition is a very small and pretty Bible. It'll fit practically anywhere and you can carry it with you whenever you want. The cover also has a very nice texture to it. The colors of the cover are a shade darker than the Amazon photo and, in my taste, better.
Unfortunately, the print is very small. You can still read it with moderate ease, but trying to read more than a few chapters at a time will strain your eyes. Also, because the Bible is so small, you can't leave it open on your lap or table. It has a tendency to close itself unless you have a hand on it to keep it open. I definitely do not recommend using this Bible as your primary Bible.
I originally purchased this Bible because I wanted to have an ESV Bible to read texts in parallel. I ended up liking the ESV so much, that I tried using this as my primary Bible - and that's when I learned all the impractical problems of a small Bible. I now keep it in my car's glove box for those moments I want my Bible in a bind.

Three stars for this particular edition. (Five stars for the ESV.)

For day-to-day ESV use, I now use The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version.

If you're in the market for a small Bible, this may be just the one for you! I've been using it as a "carry" for several months now -- it's nice being able to go to a Bible study without having to haul around my whale-size NKJV.

Some other nice features: the cover and the ESV translation. The cover feels good and looks just right (I've actually gotten comments about how good it looks.) The ESV translation is awesome -- it takes a little getting used to if you're coming off the old school translations, but it flows nicely (it's pretty close to the version that the Episcopalian church uses in its worship services, I found), and it's spot on with the Greek (at least as far as I've been able to determine.)

This one probably won't replace your bedstand Bible (unless you have really good vision, as the print is so small), and it can be a bit hard to take notes in (since the margins are fairly narrow in places), but it fills its niche very nicely. It's more than worth the price you'll pay for it -- I'd have gladly paid several times more for a small Bible of this quality.

I received this Bible from my parents on my 18th birthday. I have had it for over 3 years, and it has lasted quite well. The imitation leather is beautiful, although it does not feel anything like leather. Until recently this Bible has stayed in great condition. This is my everyday Bible, and it has gone through a lot. It has been rained on a little, and the pages have been folded, accidentally glued together with a sugary substance, and since I usually keep it in my purse it has been bent, smashed, and twisted. Despite all of this, it looks only a little worse for wear on the outside.
The pages hold up well to excessive writing, which was really good for me. I have used ball point pens, pencils, sharpie pens, and much more on the pages and they all work very well. The font is too small, according to my parents and friends, but I have good eyesight and so it is perfect for me.

Advantages: Compact size makes it perfect for carrying around in a purse, backpack, or other bag. Imitation leather along with the filigree design looks pretty and holds up well to everyday wear. Concordance in the back makes it easy to study, and the footnotes are very helpful in defining words and cross referencing.

Disadvantages: Inside of cover is easily torn. Small print may be hard to read depending on your eyesight. Very small margins makes note taking difficult.

The ESV is a translation that is faithful to the Greek text and is an easy-to-understand English translation. Furthermore this edition is slim, and when you are on the run, you can take it anywhere.

It has been endorsed by some well-known evangelicals and Reformed scholars and Pastors including:

- Dr. Darrell L. Bock
- Jerry Bridges
- Steve Brown
- Dr. Bryan Chapell
- Dr. Kendell H. Easley (Chairman, Department of New Testament and Greek, Mid-American Baptist Theological Seminary)
- Dr. Jack Graham
- Max Lucado
- Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer
- Rev. Ranald Macaulay (L'Abri Fellowship)
- John Piper
- RC Sproul
- Joni Tada, and numerous others.

The clarity and beauty are outstanding and this fresh test is great for personal devotions. I still use the NKJV to teach from inasmuch as most of my scripture memorizing comes from it. I may have never have embraced the NKJV if the ESV was around in my early Christian walk. It is accurate and communicates in a language that will inspire this generation's conservative Evangelicals.
by Mike A Robinson author of: Truth, Knowledge and the Reason for God: The Defense of the Rational Assurance of Christianity
and
"One Way to God: Christian Philosophy and Presuppositional Apologetics Examine World Religions" ASIN#:1432722956

This bible is totaly great! Fits in my purse very nicely! Many of my friends now own this bible and the other styles like it! ESV is great! My friend at Gordon Conwell reccomended it! And she was right, it is AWESOME! I love holding it and reading it! It is very soft and light. In my bible study though most people over the age of 40 had a hard time seeing it with out reading glasses...

Once one family member had one of these compact Bibles, everyone had to have one! And for accuracy and clarity, the ESV has established itself as the leader of the pack.

Since discovering the ESV, I have been highly impressed with its attention to detail and literality, while still being beautiful and accessible. In my mind, the ESV has the accuracy of the NASB mixed with the readability of the NIV, making it the best English Bible translation out there.

As for the design, I find it excellent. From the unique font (Garamond) to the Trutone cover (that feels really good, by the way), this Bible is beautiful. The design is elegant, yet functional, and the size makes it very transportable. I would recommend this product to anyone who wants a Bible that is faithful to the original languages while staying readable in English (though if you have a hard time reading small print, you ought to get the slimline edition instead).

Wow, what a gem. First of all, the ESV is the NIV for the 21st century, and this little edition is remarkably handy. The cover is quite handsome and has a fine soft patina-feel to it.
Very well made and readable.

Wonder feel of the cover, ESV bible. Good sized print. Very portable. Definitely exactly what I was looking for.

for someone just over 40, consider the font of this Bible - just too samll to read. otherwise, this would be the absolute perfect pocket Bible. the translation is wonderful.